Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/190

BAKER.BAKER. parties, taking charge of the specimens they collected and editing their reports. He also collected many valuable specimens which he added to those brought in by the parties, and these laid the foundation of the United States museum at Washington. In 1871 he was chosen U. S. commissioner of fish and fisheries, and was so successful in his work of protecting and promoting the culture of fish in the rivers and lakes of America that some European countries followed his teachings. He received the honorary degree of M. D. from the Philadelphia medical college in 1848, and in 1856 Dickinson college conferred upon him the degree of Ph. D., and in 1875 he received the degree of LL. D. from the Columbian university. For a number of years he occupied the position of a trustee of Columbian university, and also of the Corcoran gallery of art in Washington. During the years 1850 and 1851 he was secretary of the American association for the advancement of science, and in 1864 was made a member of the National academy of science. He received many honorary medals from foreign societies, a medal from the Acclimation society of Melbourne in 1878, from that of France in 1879; the first honor prize for the International fish exhibit in Berlin in 1880; and the order of St. Olaf from the King of Norway and Sweden. More than twenty-five kinds of animal life have been named in his honor, as well as several extinct species. Prof. George Brown Goode's bibliography of his works from 1843 to 1882 include 1,063 titles. Among his most widely used works are his translation of Heck's "Bilder Atlas"; the "Iconographic Encyclopædia" (4 vols., 1852); "Catalogue of North American Reptiles" (1853); "Mammals of North America" (1859); "Birds of North America," with John Cassin (1860); "Review of American Birds in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution" (1864-'66); "Distribution and Migrations of North American Birds" with Thomas M. Brewer and Robert Ridgway (5 vols., 1874-’84). He was scientific editor of Harper and Brother's publications. 1870-'78. (See Baird's "Manual of North American Birds," (1887).) He received eight votes for a place in the Hall of Fame, New York university, in October, 1900. He died at Woods Hull. Mass., Aug. 19, 1887. BAKER, Abijah Richardson, clergyman, was born in Franklin, Mass., Aug. 30, 1805; son of David and Jemima (Richardson) Baker. In 1830 he was graduated from Amherst college, and from Andover theological seminary in 1835. In the latter year he became an instructor in the Phillips Andover academy, and in 1836 was installed pastor of the Medford (Mass.) Congregational church. There he remained for thirteen years. When he resigned to accept a call to Lynn, Mass., in 1851. He organized the Central church of that city. This pastorate he resigned in 1857 and resided for a time at Wellesley, removing thence to South Boston, Mass. His published writings include: "A School History of the United States, containing Maps, a Chronological Chart, and an Outline of Topics for a More Extensive Course of Study" (1843); "A Question Book on the Topics in Christ's Sermon on the Mount" (3 vols., 1862), and "The Catechism Tested by the Bible" (1851). This was translated into fifteen languages, and reached a publication of over a million. He also assisted his wife in editing "The Mother's Assistant" and "The Happy Home." He was married in 1835 to Harriet Newell, daughter of Rev. Leonard and Abigail (Wheeler) Woods. His sons in 1897 were located as follows: George Stuart Baker, D. D., rector of St. Luke's hospital, N. Y.; Charles Richard Baker, D. D., rector of the Church of the Messiah, Brooklyn, N. Y.; William Henry Baker, M. D., ex-professor of gynæcology in Harvard university, Boston, Mass.; Walter Abijah Baker, D. D., rector of St. John the Baptist's church, Baltimore, Md., and the Rev. Frank Woods Baker, rector of St. Paul's church, Cincinnati, Ohio. He died April 30, 1876. BAKER, Benjamin Franklin, musician, was born in Wenham, Mass., July 10, 1811. He removed to Salem, Mass., studied music and began to teach in 1831. He was a member of a concert company in 1833, musical director in Dr. William E. Channing's church, Boston. 1839-'47. He held musical conventions from 1841; served as vice-president of the Handel and Haydn society, and was teacher of music in the Boston grammar schools, 1842-48. He introduced the study of music into the schools of Lawrence and Lowell; edited The Boston Musical Journal and founded Boston music school in 1857. He wrote and published music. He died in Boston, March 11, 1889. BAKER, Benjamin Webb, educator, was born in Hutton, Ill., Nov. 25, 1841; son of John B. and Sarah E. (Adams) Baker; and grandson of Matthew and Samantha (Town) Baker of Massachusetts, and of John and Harriet S. (Webb) Adams of New York and Maryland. He lived on a farm until 1861, and from a child aided in the support of the family. He enlisted in the 25th Illinois volunteer infantry, 1801; was wounded several times, and was honorably discharged in 1865. He was graduated from the state normal school, Normal, Ill., in 1870; was principal of the grammar department of that school, 1866-'70, and was graduated from the Illinois Wesleyan university, Ph. B., in 1874, receiving his A. M. and Ph. D. degrees in course. He joined the Central Illinois conference in which he served, with the exception of two years in Denver, Col. (1881-'83) until